Journey with Christ (& MPC)

by Jim Lyon, Senior Pastor

There’s no place like home. No doubt about it. After spending almost a year homeless (after losing our house to a fire), nobody gets that better than I do. Having a bed to call our own and a routine to give forward motion to everyday life is a key to balance, stability, and fulfillment.

Still, there’s nothing like a vacation, either. Even a stay-at-home vacation, which interrupts the rhythm of ordinary life and daily responsibility, is a welcome stop in the long course of the year. To be able to travel somewhere, to see something different, and to be removed from the demands of regular days, well, that’s especially a treat.

A vacation can be a time of spiritual renewal and engagement, too. It’s not always about being entertained or escaping, it’s about being able to take a deep breath, focus, listen, relax, and open our hearts to the presence of God in a unique way. A few days or a week away can make all the difference as we face the future.

Where Are You Going?

I’m often asked where I’m going next and is it possible to be part of a group that goes, too. Here are some vacation, travel, and, yes (absolutely) spiritually-grounded opportunities in the next twelve months that I’d like you to consider. I will be on each of these journeys, as will some other terrific friends I know you’d enjoy. Check your calendars and think about setting some dollars aside—and come along.

First up: the CBH ViewPoint Retreat at the Cove, October 20-23, 2013 (Sunday-Wednesday). This annual retreat, hosted by the ministry of Christians Broadcasting Hope and its English language program, ViewPoint, is a once-in-a-year kind of getaway in a once-in-a-world kind of place. Nestled in the spectacular autumn colors of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, the Cove is a fabulously conceived hotel and retreat center with sweeping views, outstanding cuisine, and stunning architecture. The Retreat at the Cove is an all-inclusive spiritual vacation (in which a beautifully appointed hotel room and unforgettable dining three times a day are included). There’s time to listen, learn, laugh, and grow in plenary sessions in the Cove auditorium (perched on a steep hillside with floor-to-ceiling glass), there’s time to explore the vast preserve that is the Cove ravine, there’s time to visit the nearby Biltmore mansion or quirky, artsy, fashionable Asheville, and there’s time to just stop and think, drinking in the fresh, clean, air under the soft, blue sky. Grammy award winning recording artist, author, and inspirational speaker, Kathy Troccoli will be our special guest. Other terrific teachers and conference leaders will be on-hand, as will I. More information is available at: www.cbhviewpoint.org.

Second: CBH also invites you to join me on a tour of the Holy Land in January, 2014. In just under two weeks, you can sail the Sea of Galilee, explore the Old City of Jerusalem, visit Bethlehem (on the Christmas Eve celebrated by many eastern orthodox churches, January 6), wade into the Jordan and the Dead Sea, stroll through ancient Capernaum and Nazareth, view the Promised Land from the top of Mt. Nebo as did Moses, and even take in the jaw-dropping mystery city of Petra (in Jordan). Gethsemane. The Mt. of Olives. Joppa. Armageddon. And so much more. It all waits for you. This is the land in which the Bible was born and brought to life; this is your chance to, quite literally, walk in the footsteps of Jesus—and the Patriarchs and Apostles, too. This will be our third CBH trip to the Holy Land; I really believe it will also be our most meaningful (as we have tuned and perfected the itinerary over time). We’ll be producing radio programs for worldwide broadcast along the way. Check out the details at: www.cbhviewpoint.org.

And, third: pack some sunscreen and book passage with us on the Sandi Patty and Friends Caribbean Cruise, February 23 through March 2, 2014 (Saturday-Sunday) on Holland America’s elegant (and very fun) msNieuwAmsterdam (departing from and returning to Ft. Lauderdale). Sandi has invited me to be a speaker and “chaplain” for the cruise; the guest list also includes some of the brightest and best: Larnelle Harris, Wayne Watson, Sheila Walsh, Anita Renfroe, Selah, and Angie Smith. Music. Laughter. Wisdom. Truth. Life. And, oh yeah, food, sunshine, and extraordinary stops (like the Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Key West). It was my privilege to tag along last year on a Sandi and Friends Cruise. I knew I would be blessed by the week away, but I was unprepared for the rich spiritual and deep soul-refreshing gifts of the journey. Honestly, it was so much more than a cruise, it was a week of knowing God and diving into His love. This cruise promises the same. It’s a terrific value and extraordinary getaway. Information can be found at www.inspirationcruises.com.

Well, there you have it.

Three great vacation options, ranging from just a few days to almost two weeks. Something for every budget and taste, on land, at sea, at home, and abroad. Think, pray, and talk it over with family and friends. Pack your bags. Join us. Be blessed